PGA Championship aims for August tourney in San Francisco, Masters pushed back to November

Share this:

Jay Haas hits out of the bunker on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2011 Charles Schwab Cup Championship at TPC Harding Park on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011 in San Francisco, Calif. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff)

The British Open was canceled Monday for the first time since World War II, and the schedule for golf’s three other major championships was shuffled in a way that moves the PGA Championship to the front of the line and the Masters to the back.

The PGA Championship, to be played at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park, was moved last week from its original May dates to Aug. 6-9.

“With our country going through extremely difficult times, it will be an honor for all of us at the PGA of America to hopefully help turn a page in August with the PGA Championship and September with the Ryder Cup,” PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh said in a statement.

Harding Park, a public course, has been closed since March 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic, and there is no assurance it will be open by August.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Sunday he did not expect any NFL games to be held in the state by the regularly scheduled start date in September, including those of the 49ers at Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium. What that means for golf remains to be seen.

“We will continue to follow the guidance of public health officials, but are hopeful that it will be safe and responsible to conduct the PGA Championship in August and the Ryder Cup as planned from September 22-27 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin with our NBC Sports partners.” Waugh said in his statement.

— The Masters, ordinarily played in April as the first of golf’s four annual majors, has been moved to Nov. 9-15 in Augusta, Georgia.

— The U.S. Open, always played in June, has been moved to Sept. 17-20 at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York.

Statement from Chairman Ridley:

"We have identified Nov 9-15 as the intended dates to host the 2020 Masters. We hope the anticipation of staging the Tournament brings a moment of joy to the Augusta community and those who love the game."

— The British Open, which was last canceled in 1945 (and five preceding years), was scheduled to be played July 12-19 at Royal St. Georges in Kent, England. Next year’s Open will return to Royal St. Georges and the 150th Open championship, slated for St. Andrews in 2021, will be played there in 2022.